The artwork is by New Zealand-born street artist Ash Sisson, or Chimp, and was commissioned to activate the area, enhancing the visual experience and contributing to a welcoming environment.
Senior Arts Advisor Pippa Sanderson says the mural is very fitting as Newlands Park, named Pukehuia – hill of the huia, was once an area covered with native trees and home to huia and other native bird species.
“The design speaks to the purpose of this space as one for recreation and reflection, and references the surrounding environment – its history, flora and fauna.”
Chimp says his design focuses on the energy of the huia, the Newlands community, and the future of the skatepark.
“Visually it is highly dynamic and pops like the actions that are performed within the park. The front facing wall features a male and female huia interacting, woven between hīnau flowers and abstract shapes the artwork links together and flows along like a line of tricks strung together by a skater.
“As the artwork wraps around to the side wall it becomes more abstract and suggestive of the huia’s form and breaks down into high energy shapes and patterns playing with rhythm, repetition, scale and contrast.
“The rear facing wall depicts an abstraction of the huia taking flight, as riders in the park will also do so. All of the walls feature a repeated colour palette and form language of shapes and line to connect and tie in the space.”